Get ready for a weekend full of honey, horses and mud

There are plenty of sweet things to do in the Southeast with three free events on the last full weekend of August: from all the buzz in Kleefeld to mucking around in Marchand, and some equine artistry in Sundown.

Kleefeld Honey Festival

The Kleefeld Honey Festival starts this Saturday at 7:30 a.m. with a free pancake breakfast and ends with the big fireworks show at 9 p.m.

The 10 a.m. parade follows the same route as last year with barricades marking the route. Hanover fire station two will be joining and collecting non-perishable food for Grunthal Helping Hands

Then things move over to Kleefeld Park.

There will be local vendors offering their wares at the honey suckle mini market, but of course it would not be a honey festival without the sweet stuff.

O.V. Honey Farms is from just outside of Mitchell. Owners Curtis and Lexi Oude Voshaar will have a booth set up all day long with their honey. They will have free samples of different flavours of honey butter, and are bringing back the hidden honey straw search in a bale of straw for kids.

Curtis grew up just outside of Kleefeld and has been in the bee business for nine years. As he explained on the festival’s social media, he’s dealt with bees around the world including Mexico and New Zealand.

Anyone wanting to see our local bees can check out their observation box. To avoid the pointy end of the worker bees, glass will encase them so visitors can see through both sides and see what the hive looks like on the inside.

Those local firefighters are hosting another fire fighters Cornerstone Firefighter Challenge, where spectators are invited to get wet on what is promised to be a hot summer day. The obstacle course challenge will have firefighters from throughout the Southeast and runs 12-4 p.m. close to the Kleefeld rec centre.

There is music through the day ending with country music artist Brady Kenneth performing at 8 p.m. right up until the fireworks start shooting.

Beach volleyball is back for its second year, and there is a slo-pitch tournament. A kids area is up and running as soon as the parade ends and runs until 3 p.m. It includes bouncy houses, bubbles, face painting, crafts and more.

Marchand Logging Days

For a messier good time Saturday and Sunday, there is the Manitoba Mud Mafia ATV and SXS Races at Marchand Logging Days.

Kid races in the mud start at 12:30 Saturday, followed by youth and adult races.

Log sawing is at 6 p.m., with Brooke Paige and The Rumbleseat performing at 9 p.m.

Kids games are set up all weekend. There is a pancake breakfast both days at 9 a.m.

Sunday has the car and truck show, and an ATV rodeo at 11:30 a.m. Music starts at 4 p.m. Sunday and fireworks are at 9:15 at Marchand Park.

Sundown Gymkhana

It is the 20th annual gymkhana in Sundown starting at 3 p.m. Saturday and running through Sunday afternoon.

Signs will point the way off Road 53E to the horse riding event, supper at 6 p.m. and live band at 8 p.m. Saturday, and pancake breakfast 8 a.m. Sunday.

Cowboy church is at 10 a.m. Sunday followed by an afternoon open gymkhana.